CFD Analysis and Wind Tunnel Testing of Human Powered Vehicle Drag Coefficients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Estrada ◽  
Kevin R. Anderson ◽  
Ivan Gundersen ◽  
Chuck Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Drag Coefficient ◽  
Wind Tunnel Test ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Wind Tunnel Testing ◽  
Cfd Analysis ◽  
Drag Coefficients ◽  
Drag Forces ◽  
Human Powered ◽  
Tunnel Testing

Abstract This paper presents results of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling and experimental wind tunnel testing to predict the drag coefficient for a Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) entered in the World Human Powered Speed Challenge (WHPSC). Herein, a comparison of CFD to wind tunnel test data is presented for ten different HPV designs. The current study reveals that streamlining the nose cone, tail cone, and wheel housing allows for a reduction of drag forces in critical areas, and a reduced drag coefficient. This allows for a selection to be made during the design phase, prior to manufacturing. Drag coefficients were found to be in the range of 0.133 < CD < 0.273, depending on the type of HPV considered. Wind tunnel testing was performed on scale models of the HPV showing agreement to the CFD results on average to within 16%. The wind tunnel testing showed a 7.7% decrease in drag coefficient from the baseline HPV of 2019 to the baseline HPV of 2020. Thus, the wind tunnel data supported by CFD analysis was used to assist in the design of the HPV.

Videogrammetry of the Model’s Attitude in Wind Tunnel Testing

2012 ◽  
Vol 190-191 ◽  
pp. 1273-1277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Yu Zhang ◽  
Zhong Xiang Sun ◽  
Xu Hui Huang ◽  
Yan Sun
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Drag Coefficient ◽  
Systematic Error ◽  
Measurement System ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Wind Tunnel Test ◽  
Wind Tunnel Testing ◽  
Supersonic Wind Tunnel ◽  
Tunnel Testing

The advanced precision of drag coefficient is 0.0001 for the high speed wind tunnel test of measuring forces, the model’s angle of attack precision is ≤0.01°following errors distribution. A videogrammetric method of model’s attitude is therefore proposed, its uncertainty is investigated, and a compensation method of its systematic error is also presented by this paper. The three engineering videogrammetric experiments of attack angle in 2 meter supersonic wind tunnel testing have demonstrated that measuring standard deviation of videogrammetric measurement system established by this paper is ≤0.0094°, in addition it neither destroys the model’s shape, nor changes the stiffness or strength, so it is useful and effective.

scholarly journals Wind tunnel testing of additive manufactured aircraft components

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 886-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z.W. Teo ◽  
T.H. New ◽  
Shiya Li ◽  
T. Pfeiffer ◽  
B. Nagel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Wind Tunnel Test ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Wind Tunnel Testing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wind Tunnel Measurement ◽  
Measurement Results ◽  
Joined Wing ◽  
Tunnel Testing

Purpose This paper aims to report on the physical distortions associated with the use of additive manufactured components for wind tunnel testing and procedures adopted to correct for them. Design/methodology/approach Wings of a joined-wing test aircraft configuration were fabricated with additive manufacturing and tested in a subsonic closed-loop wind tunnel. Wing deflections were observed during testing and quantified using image-processing procedures. These quantified deflections were then incorporated into numerical simulations and results had agreed with wind tunnel measurement results. Findings Additive manufacturing provides cost-effective wing components for wind tunnel test components with fast turn-around time. They can be used with confidence if the wing deflections could be accounted for systematically and accurately, especially at the region of aerodynamic stall. Research limitations/implications Significant wing flutter and unsteady deflections were encountered at higher test velocities and pitch angles. This reduced the accuracy in which the wing deflections could be corrected. Additionally, wing twists could not be quantified as effectively because of camera perspectives. Originality/value This paper shows that additive manufacturing can be used to fabricate aircraft test components with satisfactory strength and quantifiable deflections for wind tunnel testing, especially when the designs are significantly complex and thin.

Wind tunnel test of a whirl flutter aeroelastic demonstrator

2017 ◽  
Vol 233 (3) ◽  
pp. 969-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiri Cecrdle ◽  
Ondrej Vich ◽  
Petr Malinek
Keyword(s):  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Wind Tunnel Test ◽  
Physical Principle ◽  
Test Equipment ◽  
Wind Tunnel Testing ◽  
Assessment Methodology ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Wind Tunnel Measurements ◽  
Whirl Flutter ◽  
Tunnel Testing

This article presents the design, development and wind tunnel testing of a whirl flutter demonstrator. First, the physical principle of the whirl flutter is explained. Next, the mechanical concept of the demonstrator is described, and preparatory experiments are outlined. The main focus is on the wind tunnel measurements, including the methodology and test equipment, the result assessment methodology, and the result examples. Finally, future activities are outlined, and outcomes are formulated.

Optimization of Local Body Shape about A Minibus Based on CFD and Wind Tunnel Test

2013 ◽  
Vol 318 ◽  
pp. 257-262
Author(s):  
Liang Jiang ◽  
Zhi Cheng He ◽  
Tao Chen
Keyword(s):  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Drag Coefficient ◽  
Body Shape ◽  
Engineering Application ◽  
Wind Tunnel Test ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Cfd Analysis ◽  
Local Flow ◽  
Local Body

In the development stage of a domestic minibus styling, the detail optimization method was used to make some changes about the car body for the purpose to get much lower value of drag coefficient combined with the detailed flow field messages reflected by the CFD analysis and wind tunnel liquid display test. Also this paper discussed the local flow structure specially, as well as the different changes of drag coefficient. The study shows that detail changes of body shape based on CFD analysis and wind tunnel liquid display test can obviously reduce the drag coefficient and optimize the aerodynamic characteristic of the minibus, which provides object basis for minibus, and also have a meaningful value in engineering application in the future.

Analysis of Flutter Stability of the Xihoumen Bridge in the Completed Stage

2011 ◽  
Vol 243-249 ◽  
pp. 1629-1633
Author(s):  
Mei Yu ◽  
Hai Li Liao ◽  
Ming Shui Li ◽  
Cun Ming Ma ◽  
Ming Liu
Keyword(s):  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Test Data ◽  
Wind Tunnel Test ◽  
Suspension Bridge ◽  
Mode Analysis ◽  
Wind Loading ◽  
Wind Tunnel Testing ◽  
Tunnel Section ◽  
Flutter Analysis ◽  
Tunnel Testing

Aerodynamic stability is an issue in the wind-resistant design of long-span bridges, flutter is an aerodynamic instability phenomenon that occurs due to interactions between wind and structural motion. The Xihoumen Bridge is the second long suspension bridge in the world, the aeroelastic performance of the Xihoumen Bridge is investigated by wind tunnel testing and an analytical approach. In the case, wind-tunnel testing was performed using an aeroelastic full model of the bridge, and two section models of the bridge. Flutter derivatives of bridge decks are routinely extracted from wind tunnel section model experiments for the assessment of performance against wind loading, the analytical method used here were a two-dimensional flutter analysis and a multi-mode analysis in the frequency domain. The analytical results were compared with the wind tunnel test data; it showed that the flutter analysis results were good agreement with the wind-tunnel test data.

Automated wind tunnel testing

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Schoenfeld ◽  
Francis Priolo
Keyword(s):  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Wind Tunnel Testing ◽  
Tunnel Testing
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